The Voice - Match preview #28: Bradford City vs Doncaster Rovers Saturday 31st January 2026 12:30pm

Yes it was ironic that they were wasting so much time early doors and it continued through out the game, then the 8 minutes gave them time to get at us.

 

I'm sure that the referee did award the goal Bumble, he signalled and pointed to the centre spot. He was then surrounded by Doncaster players but he shrugged them off and again pointed to the centre spot, awarding the goal.
Only when he was further hassled did he go to the 4th official and then disallowed the goal.
The Doncaster bench showed the 4th official the goal on their iPad.
Poor poor decision for me, surely allowing himself to be bullied into watching someone's iPad isn't right?

 

Spot on trevor.

 

I counted at least three occasions when rank poor ball control from Curtis could and should have been taken by Doncaster.
For me he was very much off it and a liability today.

 

Hang on mate, the Doncaster bench haven't yet checked with the ref and showed him something in the build up on their iPad.

 

What happens if they score in the 91st minute and we then lose out on the extra added time to get a 2nd?

 

Where is this from Dave
If those are the rules, win or not the FA need to come down hard on the ref and 4th official and whilst they are at it increase our goal difference by one

 

This will lead to all teams in the EFL now harassing the referee's with their iPads for any and every decision made.
Needs stamping out quickly.

 

There's certainly no whistle or point to the centre circle from the referee

 

I just Goggle it and that came up.

 

The relevant period in the game is not included in these highlights. It is impossible to conclude either way based on this.

 

Yes he did Bumble. I was watching him, as always, when we score just to be sure he's awarded the goal.
Definitely awarded a goal as did the linesman who was running back to the half way line.

 

Surely there must be some rule against the referee being bullied into changing his decision because someone happens to have an ipad with him. Does it mean that if I take an ipad to a match I can challenge every decision I don't agree with?

 

I know some don't trust Simon Parker but his report in the T and A said the ref awarded the goal.

 

This looks like something from Google AI and it's very contradictory as it says the 4th official can't get involved then says other officials are responsible for making decision, the 4th official is "other officials".

This is the official laws, the 4th official is classed as an "on field match official" and it clearly states they are there to assist the referee.

 

I expect he wanted to beat Donny as much as the rest of us!

 

Yes. The Donny bench had one set up on a tripod stand right in front of their manager's seat

 

I read the FA website earlier.

They are allowed input into red and yellow cards and penalty box incidents that can result in a goal so he was within the responsibilities of his role to say something if he saw something

 

Grant McCann reflects on the defeat at Bradford City have a listen to this around 2:20 into the video, McCann openly says the 4th official made the call from 40 yards away, we need to challenge the decision not because it WAS a hand ball but because neither the referee or linesman made the call.

 

I still don’t see how the 4th official can see it was hand ball
He is about three times the distance away than the ref, the linesman is bang in line and Jackson had his back to him
So unless he has x ray or bionic eyesight
It’s not a decision he can be certain about